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Supporting sustainable businesses while protecting endangered species
Seeking to familiarize the business community with the responsibilities of nature reserve managers and explore opportunities for collaboration in protecting nature, AmCham Serbia organized a two-day visit for its member companies to the Uvac Special Nature Reserve. The event took place as part of the Together for the Environment activity, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Belgrade Open School (BOS).
The Uvac visit was the second such event in 2024, following on from a tour of the Palić-Ludaš Lake conservation area. Uvac is home to Serbia’s largest population of the Eurasian griffon vulture, the last species of these large birds of prey to survive in the region.
The visitors were able to learn about the importance of these birds for preserving the environment, as the scavenging griffon vultures play a key role in cleansing ecosystems. They feed on the carcasses of animals and abattoir refuse, thus removing some 450 tonnes of organic waste from the environment in Serbia every year. Vultures help limit the spread of infectious disease, reduce air pollution, mitigate soil and water pollution risks, and contribute to reducing the cost of organic waste disposal.
Although the Eurasian griffon vulture was near extinct in Serbia in the late 20th century, active protection measures deployed by the Uvac nature reserve helped increase the population to some 500 individuals. However, continuing this positive trend requires additional investment to build the capacity of conservation areas, coupled with continuing active protection measures to safeguard the survival of these large birds of prey.
“The key aim of this visit is for us to show these companies what needs to be done to protect these largest nature cleaners of the animal world and grow their population. The firms are now able to see how investing in conservation areas contributes to creating a climate of responsible business and helps achieve our common goal: to preserve our country’s natural wealth”, said Amalija Pavić, AmCham Serbia Deputy Executive Director.
“Our task is to bring the business community and nature reserve managers closer together and help them better understand and connect with one another. This type of collaboration will allow us to involve businesses in developing and enhancing the management of Serbia’s conservation areas and promoting environmental protection in the country”, added Mirjana Jovanović, Program Manager at Belgrade Open School.
The visit was hugely important for raising the business community’s awareness of the significance of safeguarding the environment and potential ways to collaborate on protecting Serbian natural resources.
Together for the Environment is an initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Belgrade Open School (BOS), together with Young Researchers of Serbia (MIS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the EcoNomic Expert Community Association (ENECA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and AmCham Serbia. The primary goal of the project is to enhance environmental protection and promote biodiversity in Serbia.
